Women in Life Transition

I understand that women have unique financial needs. As women our goals include our families, causes we care about, and our employees if we are a business owner.

As women most of us will have a time in our lives when we will be the ones making the decisions about our finances alone either by choice or by circumstances.

While we are busy caring about others we sometimes forget to make ourselves a priority. Just like on an airplane, when the oxygen mask drops down, we are instructed to put on our own oxygen mask first, so we can continue to care for those traveling with us. The same principal holds true for our financial wellbeing. The truth is that women need to start putting themselves first. And in fact a recent study of female executives age 45 to 70 found that women are concerned about meeting their long term goals.

• 62% of women listed having enough money to retire as a top priority
  
• 49% (nearly half) are concerned about outliving their income
  
• Funding health care is another concern for 46% of these same women executives
  
  ^{(source: MetLife Study of Finances and Female executives, MetLife Mature Market institute and women’s Institute for Secure Retirement) WISER 2010)}

There is a serious confidence gap for many women investors. Another survey of women, ages 25-68, found that while 80% of women surveyed agree that maintaining their lifestyle in retirement is a top priority, only 18% of them were very confident they can achieve that goal. The 62-point confidence gap is alarming. Many times we find that women are well prepared but don’t have a good way to measure their level of preparedness. Sometimes it is an education process, of proactive planning that can help bridge this gap.

^{(source: 2006-2008 Prudential Study: Financial Experience and Behavior among Women, conducted October 2007)}

Women view the world of investing thru different lenses. We can work together to help you recognize your goals, create a road map that involves you day to day as much or as little as you would like to be involved. But most of all we can create a plan together that enables you to clearly see where you are, where you would like to be and how to get you there.

Things we need to consider: organize and catalog, explore and implement when appropriate. Who do I need to contact and what do I need to do about:

• Insurance Policies
  
  • Annuities
    
  • Life
  • Long Term Care/Critical Care
    
    
• What to do with all of this stuff
  
  • Checking and savings accounts
    
  • Credit cards
    
  • Mortgages and Leases
    
  • Retirement accounts, IRA, 401(k)
    
  • Investment accounts
    
  • Mutual Funds, ETF accounts
    
  • Certificates of deposit
  • Social Security, Pension, Widow Benefits
    
    
• Legal Documents
  
  • Will/Trust
    
  • Power of Attorney, Medical and Durable

I am a resource and an advocate for my clients. As a financial advisor, I have the tools at my disposal to assist my clients in identifying, then reaching their financial goals and dreams. I offer personal wealth management and resources that offer every one of my client’s asset allocations to fit their needs.

I also assist with divorce strategy and asset management. I help high net worth spouses get the best possible outcome in their divorce. I work closely with their attorney by providing critical financial advice on an “as needed” basis throughout negotiations.

I assist the client and their attorney in uncovering and understanding all the assets being divided; I illustrate financial planning choices to assist in settlement options that can aid with the decision making process. This can help support the client to make the transition from being perhaps the non-financially dominant spouse to being financially independent. When necessary, I can work with the attorney to help “level the playing field.”

Post-divorce I track the assets being divided to ensure that my client receives the assets specified in the marital settlement agreement. I transition all publicly traded securities to the new account with our firm.